Connection for end posts and bottom chords of bridges



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

' S A. BUCHANAN.

UONNEGTION FOR END POSTS AND BOTTOM CHORDS 0F BRIDGES.

Patented July 31, 18.88.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

s. A. BUCHANAN. CONNECTION FOR END POSTS AND BOTTOM CHORDS OF BRIDGES. No. 387,139.

Patented July 81, 1888.

llrrED STATES PATENT Fries.

SAMUEL A. BUCHANAN, OF BELLEFONTAINE, OHIO.

CONNECTION FOR END POSTS AND BOTTOM CHORDS 0F BRIDGES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 387,139, dated July 31, 1888.

Application filed February 8, 1888. Serial No. 263,369.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL A. BUCHANAN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Bellefontaiue, Logan county, Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in G011- nections for Chords and Bows or Struts of Bridges, of which the following is a specification.

My invent-ion relates to connections for the ends of the bows, struts, or end posts of wooden bridges with the bottom chords thereof, the same being effected by means of plates secured to the above-named parts, and has for its object to provide a joint which is adapted for use on chords and bows meeting at any angle, being made light and durable, adapted to shed water from thejoints, and comparativelyinexpensive. To these ends I provide the ends of the bows or struts with plates having hemiplate. Fig. IV is a horizontal section on an enlarged scale. Figs. V and VI are modifications.

Of these ball-and-socket connections there may be any number in a transverse series,and it is intended that the plates to be described are to be attached to the ends of each bow or strut in the bridge and to the bottom chord, where the same is met by the end posts of the bows or struts, and I will proceed to describe one such connection.

A is the chord plate, having sockets 1, wedge-shaped transverse ribs 6, terminating in tongue 7, and having re-enforce bracket or rib 8 transversely thereto, all of which parts are preferably cast in one piece. This plate has also formed integrally thereon the downturned portions 9, for the purpose of keeping the water from entering the j oints of the woodwork. This downturned flange extends entirely around the plate, (being broken away slightly in Fig. II for the purpose of illustra- (No model.)

tion.) The upper surface of this chordplate may be beveled each way from a transverse central ridge, and the portion between the grooves may be hollowed out, as illustrated. This plate may also be slightly modified to serve for central or intermediate struts by hav ing sockets in both of the beveled faces without departing from my invention.

B is the upper or how plate, and has projections 2 with hemispherical heads, transverse webs 3 extending between the projections and forming ribs 3 beyond them, and the longitudinal ribs lperpendicular to and on both sides of the web. This plate is also provided with transverse faces or flanges 5, formed on the plate in such manner as to afford in several pieces in the end post. If there are as many to the end post as there are ballandsocket joints on the plates, it is preferable to have the flanges 5 concentric with said joints, so as to equally distribute the strain 011 the plates.

10 are projecting brackets, having perforations 11 for the reception of screws or bolts.

13 are dowels cast on the face of the flanges 5 for insertion in the ends of the pieces.

The bottom chords, I", and struts or bows C of wooden bridges are generally formed of the same number of timbers or parallel pieces, spaced, say, about one and one-half inch apart, and in applying the chord-plate the main portion or plate proper rests upon and extends to the edges of the two pieces, the flange 9 extending down so as to prevent the Water from entering between the plate and wood, the end flanges being admitted by the recesses or beveled portion 9 formed in the wood, as shown in Fig. I.

The flange 6 and tongue 7 are let into the chord by mortising,while the bracket or sup port 8 is admitted in the space between the members or pieces of the chord. A packingblock, 17, is inserted into the space between the said members behind the tongue and flange, and there secured by bolts 16, which also serve to draw the chord-piece securely together to securely bind the bracket, flange, and tongue of the plate.

C and D are respectively the end posts and bottom chords.

TVhen the bottom chord is made three or bracket 10.

these pieces to leave a portion, of the post four ply, the top plate is increased in size to cover all the timbers and the downwardlyextending flanges simply multiplied accordingly. When two or more sets of flanges are used, the flange 6 is made to extend across the several timbers to within about half an inch of the outside of the outer timbers, as shown in Fig. V.

If the modification shown in Fig. V be employed, it is evident there will be no necessity for the packing-block, bracket 8 being formed on both sides of the tongue and the bolts passed through perforations 8 therein; or, if I prefer, I may employ the construction of the lower portion shown in Fig. V for a single face-plate without altering the character of my invention.

In securing the bow-plates to the ends of the bows or end posts such ends are dressed square to fit the faces of flanges 5, with a hole for the admission of the dowel 13, and a bolt, nail, or screw is then inserted through the hole 11 in I prefer in fitting plates onto O overlapping in such manner as to exclude water from the joint.

14 are re-enforce webs formed between the projecting edges of the parts of the plates B in order to bind them together.

15 are packing-rings used to space the timhers in bottom chords and bows or end posts apart. They are secured in desired positions by means of bolts passed through the timbers, and are as numerous as the case may require.

Having thus described my invention, the following is What I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The combination, with a bottom chord of a bridge, of a plate, A, having sockets l for the reception of the end of the bow, the said plate being provided with a downwardlyprojecting flange adapted to be mortised into the said chord, as set forth.

2. The combination, with chord G, of plates A, for supporting the ends of the bows, said plates being provided with flanges 9 for excluding water, as set forth.

3. The combination,with the bottom chord, 0, formed of two or more members, of plates A, secured thereto for securing the ends of the hows, the said plates having flanges 6 and tongues 7 mortised into the chord, and the brackets or supports 8 extending between the members, as set forth.

4:. The combination, with the bottom chord formed of two or more members, of plates for securing the ends of the bows and packingblocks interposed between the members, the said plates having downwardly-projecting ribs or flanges adapted to abut against said packing-blocks, as set forth.

5. The combination, with a bow or truss of a bridge, of a plate secured to the end thereof for hearing against a seat on the chord, the said plate having the flanges 5, dowel 13, and projection 10, having screw-aperture 11, as set forth.

6. The combination of the plate A, having flanges and sockets, substantially as described, with the plate B, having projections 2, adapted to fit in said sockets, said plates being secured in place on the horizontal and inclined members of the bridge respectively, as set forth.

7. A bearing-plate for members of wooden bridges, consisting of the flanges 5, against which the ends of the pieces in said members bear, projections2 on said flanges 5 for supporting the plate, and the strengthening webs or ribs 3, 3, and 4, said plates being secured to the members in the manner described.

8. The herein-described connecting-plate to be secured to the timbers of a bridge member, which consists of transverse bearing faces or flanges 5 for the ends of the said timbers in the member, projections 2, extending from said 7 flanges 5, and strengthening-webs 14, substantially as set forth.

SAMUEL A. BUCHANAN.

Witnesses:

R. P. LUKENs, EDWARD HIGGINS. 

